Prior to joining Bank of Central Florida, Paul Noris was the Lakeland city president for SunTrust Bank, Mid-Florida. During his sixteen-year career with SunTrust Bank, Mr. Noris spent two years in the retail side of the bank as a branch manager, two years in credit administration managing the credit training function for the bank, one year in the trust and investment area engaged in sales and relationship management, and more than ten years working in the commercial lending department. His time in the commercial area began as a relationship manager and progressed from managing a local unit to managing the commercial lending function for SunTrust Bank, Mid-Florida, while also carrying the title of city president.

Mr. Noris has lived in Lakeland since 1996 and has served on the boards of various civic organizations during that time. He is former chair of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, Business Voice, and the past president of the Explorations V Children's Museum. He currently serves as Vice-chairman of Lakeland Regional Hospital Foundation and is on the Board of Overseers at Florida Southern College Business School. He is a graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class XVI and currently is serves as the chair-elect for Leadership Lakeland. Mr. Noris received his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida in 1987.

After graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Mr. Kenney began his career in public accounting with Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells as an auditor specializing in banking clients. He transitioned to the banking industry in 1980. He has served as chief financial officer of four community banks in Central Florida from startup to $900 million in assets. He helped build Citrus and Chemical Bank into the largest independent bank in Polk County before it was acquired in 2007. Bob has been active in the community since 1990 where he served as past presidents of Polk Chapter of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Kiwanis Club of Bartow.

Prior to joining the Bank of Central Florida, Jim Dugger has had a banking career spanning over thirty years in both Florida and California. Mr. Dugger has been in the Tampa Bay market for over nineteen years where his most recent positions included Chief Credit Officer of Florida Bank, Senior Credit Officer at C1Bank, and Senior Credit Officer at American Momentum Bank. During his career Mr. Dugger has been responsible for all aspects of lending including consumer, residential, and commercial divisions, underwriting, and loan operations. He is a graduate of Georgia Southern University majoring in Business Management. Over the years in banking Mr. Dugger has been an active member in his community with various organizations.

Joseph Furnari is a thirty-five year resident of Polk County and received his bachelor’s degree in financial management from Florida Southern College. He spent six years with Metropolitan Life as a sales representative before beginning his banking career with First Union in 1998 (later Wells Fargo). During his twelve year career with Wachovia, Mr. Furnari spent seven years in the retail bank which included three years as a sales leader for both Hillsborough and Polk counties and five years as a commercial banker for Polk County. He is a graduate of Lakeland Leadership Class XXIV.

Robert Wedlock began his 24-year banking career at Sovereign Bank in 1990 after receiving his bachelor's degree in banking and finance from Alvernia College in Pennsylvania. Mr. Wedlock served as Chief Information Officer for First Federal Savings Bank and R-G Crown Bank after relocating to Florida in 2000. In 2006, Mr. Wedlock was named Chief Information Officer of Independent Bankers Bank and was responsible for overseeing new technology for more than 200 banks in Florida. As Director of Technology and Operations at The Norman Group in 2012, Mr. Wedlock developed an outsourced CIO and ISO package. His expertise includes complete bank system migrations due to mergers and acquisitions, new techology deployment conversions, implementation of cost-efficiency automation programs, and creation of business continuity and disaster recovery plans.

Sales Team

A native of Pennsylvania, Randell Hollen received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marietta College in 1983. He began his banking career immediately thereafter and moved to Florida in 1985. Since that time, Mr. Hollen has worked with SunTrust Bank and two community banks in commercial banking roles, including all forms of commercial transactions such as real estate, equipment and tax exempt transactions. Mr. Hollen has been a resident of Lakeland since 1991 and has served in various community service roles. He was president of The Lakeland Rotary Club from 2000 – 2001, a Board President of the American Cancer Society in 2006, Board President of Achievement Academy of Polk County, and chairman of Leadership Lakeland Class XVIII. He has also served on the boards of VISTE, United Way of Central Florida, and the Learning Resource Center of Polk County. He is a 1995 graduate of Louisiana State University’s School of Banking of the South and a member of both Leadership Lakeland XIII and Leadership Polk III.

After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, David Houston began his banking career in 1979. Most recently, Mr. Houston served as Chief Credit Officer and Director for Community Southern Bank. With thirty-five years in commercial banking, he has handled commercial loans and business development as well as credit underwriting and loan servicing. Mr. Houston has lived in Lakeland since 1981 and currently serves as a board member and Treasurer for Alliance for Independence. He is a graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class VIII and serves on the board for Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association.

Chrissy Schaff began her nineteen year banking career with Bank of America, spending seven years as a business banker with the primary responsibility of outside business development. She also worked at Mid Florida Credit Union where she held the positions of commercial loan auditor and consumer relationship manager. In addition, she spent time as a small business relationship manager for TD Bank (formerly Riverside Bank), serving the Polk County market. Ms. Schaff has been a Lakeland resident for thirty-seven years. Her community involvement includes former treasurer of the Healthy Start Coalition, board member of Girls, Inc., and former president of the board of directors for Explorations V Children's Museum. She currently volunteers for the United Way Community Investment Team.

David Brown began his banking career in 1980 after receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and History from the University of Virginia and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University. Mr. Brown served for eleven years as a Commercial Lender and Community Bank President for Chemical Bank in Holland, Michigan and five years as President & CEO of Firstbank-St. Johns, Michigan. Prior to joining Bank of Central Florida in May of 2013, he spent three years in Lakeland as a Commercial Relationship Manager for SunTrust Bank. Mr. Brown is a graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class XXIX and is active in the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeland Economic Development Council. He currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Business Department at Polk State College.

Marilyn Watson, a Lakeland native, began her banking career with First Union Bank in 1991. During her 22 years in banking, she has held various positions in retail and commercial banking. In 2004, she obtained her Series 7 investment license with the SEC and the State of Florida. Most recently, she was a commercial banker for Wells Fargo serving the Polk and Pasco markets. Ms. Watson is the current secretary for the North Lakeland Kiwanis Club where she enjoys taking part in activities focused on the children in our community.

Scott Gardner joined Bank of Central Florida in 2011, and supported the Commercial Lending and Credit Administration teams since that time. Mr. Gardner’s banking career began at World Omni Financial Corporation in Fort Lauderdale in 1993, and continued with First Union in Charlotte, NC in 1996.

He returned to his hometown of Lakeland in 2003 as a commercial banker with SunTrust, and later with MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. He is a graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class 24, past-president of Explorations V Children’s Museum, and past-president of Kiwanis Club of Lakeland. He currently serves as a board member of Noah’s Ark of Central Florida. Mr. Gardner graduated from the University of Florida with a double major in Finance and Marketing.

Jennifer Adams began her career in banking in 1996 with SunTrust Bank, where she spent most of her seven years as the branch manager of the Bartow office. In 2002, she moved to Wachovia Bank as a business banker in Brandon and was a business banker at AmSouth Bank in Lakeland. Ms. Adams is a 2000 graduate of Leadership Bartow and a graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class XXVIII. She served on the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce board of directors from 1997 to 2002, and currently sits on the board of Alliance for Independence, Inc. in Lakeland. Ms. Adams graduated from Florida Southern College in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations.

Gwyndolyn Hughes began her banking career in 2002 with First Union National Bank as a financial specialist. She is a graduate of the University of Florida and is currently an active member with The Junior League of Greater Lakeland where she has served on the board of directors, co-chaired the Reading is Fundamental program, and actively volunteers for Ready to Read, The World of Reading, Pig Fest, and the Lakeland Christmas Parade. In addition to her Junior League responsibilities, she currently serves as the Treasurer for the Central Florida Athletics Booster Club, a non-profit organization that raises funds for young athletes in our community. She is a graduate of the University of Florida.

Aileen Payne has been in the banking industry for over thirty-five years. Twenty- six of the years were with SunTrust Bank where fifteen years were in the Lakeland market. Ms. Payne is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class of XXVI. She is extremely active in her support of organizations that aid military fallen heroes’ families in the Polk County area and Polk County Veteran’s Council. She is a member of Lakeland Kiwanis.

Nancy LaFountain began her banking career in 1972 with United Banking Group in Coral Gables (now SunTrust Bank), holding positions in operations and cash management sales. After her transfer to Tampa in 1990 and then to Lakeland in 1998, Ms. LaFountain held positions of management and sales specializing in the treasury management area of banking with SunTrust, Republic and Regions banks. Her background also includes operations management, conversion team experience and product management. Ms. LaFountain holds a degree from Miami Dade Community College. Having been a member since 1990, she is a former membership chair and secretary for the Tampa Bay Treasury Management Association (TBAFP) and continues to be active in the association. Ms. LaFountain holds the designation of Certified Treasury Professional® (CTP).